Eieth



(No Model.) G. E. JGNBS.

SURGICAL NEEDLE HOLDER.

Patented Feb. 7,1882.

Inventor Wmllwi y NITED v. STATES PATENT Prion. n

GEORGE E. JONES, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO IVIIJLIAM AUTEN RIETH, OF SAME PLAGE. v

SURGICAL NEEDLE-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 253,209, dated February 7, 1882. Application filed October 24, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. JONES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Needle-Holders, ot'which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in needle-holders, or needle-forceps," as they` are io more properly termed, for use in surgical operations to sew up wounds that cannot well be reached by the hand. j

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is an elevation ota needle-holder in its open position. Fig. 2 is an elevation showing it in its closed position, and the movable lever partly inolosed within a sheath. Fig. 3 is a view in section, showing the mechanism for moving the lever forward to close the jaws that hold the needle. This view also shows the device which locks or unlocks thej ws to rmlyhold or release the needle, as desired. Fig. 4 is a view in elevation of my needle-holder in a modified form, which is shown in its unlocked or open position.

A is a short arm forming one of the handles of the holder. A' forms the other handle, and is made of one piece the entire length of the instrument, the handle itself being properly shaped at the rear end. The forward part of the handle proper is made to conform to the shape of a rod or shaft the end of which terminates in a jaw, F. Forming a part of this handle A' are pivotal lugs l l, having eyes or perforations in their sides, as shown. It also has a small longitudinal slot, s, between the afordsaid lugs. The forward portion of handle A is formed into an engagingnose, l', with a transverse perforation, which is inserted between the'lugs l liuto the slot s, and by means of a pin inserted in the aforesaid holes a hinge is formed and the fastening of one handle to the other is accomplished.

B is a movable rod or shaft held in position bythe rings D D, Fig. l, which are firmly brazed or otherwise attached to handle A', as shown, but which freely allow rod B to move forward or backward. As a substitute for these rings the sheath making part of handle 5o A', as seen in Fig. 2, may be used. This rod B is ntted into the handle A', and at its rear lextremitycurved out for the reception of the lug l', attached to handle A. Its forward end is graduated or inclined, as shown.

` E is a spring attached to the lever B, near its front extremity.

F' is a serrated handle A.

G is a spring between the handles, which serves the purpose of readily throwing apa-rt 6o the handles, and thus opening thejaws.

H is a bolt operated by the thumb-piece I, used for locking the handles, and thereby also the jaws containing the needle. This is accomplished by sliding the bolt into a hole, 7l, 65 contained in a lug, l", extending from thev nose l', as will he more clearly seen in Fig. 3.

eis the screw which holds the thumb-piece I to the holt H.

The jaws'that hold the needle have slots cut 7o in them at different angles, so that the needle may be used at any inclination.

The operation is as follows: The needle is inserted between the jaws F and F', and the operator'closes the handles A and A.A The 75 nose l', working within the cut-out portion of rod B, as seen in Fig. 3, forces the said rodA forward, and its front end, being tapered or wedge-shaped, is forced under the short arm F', the rear of which is also tapered, and raises 8o it. This has the effect of throwing the forward part of the armforming the jaw onto thejaw F, and holds the needle securely in its place.

If the operator wishes to retain the instrument for any length of time in its closed position, he moves the bolt H forward by means of the thumb-piece I; or, instead of this bolt, an appropriate wedge shaped slide at either end of the handle may be used to accommodate different sizes of needles, thereby throwing it 9o into a keeper for holding it closed. When he wishes to release the needle he withdraws the bolt or slide, the spring G, which is attached for convenience, forces the handles apart, which allows the rod B to return, and the small spring E depresses the rear of arm F', thus throwing it open.

The above-described form may be modified in some respects, as seen in Fig. 4. For instance,thehandle,A/and the rod B is actuated roo by a short arm or link intermediate betweenr it and the handle A. Both jaws are beveled jaw pivoted to the rod of vand pivoted to the forward end of the sheath or casing. The rod B is tapered on both its sides, or wedge-shaped, and when actuated by the short arm A is forced between the beveled jaws, thus closing them.

Instead 0f the bolt heretofore described for locking the instrument, the spring Gr may be employed for that purpose, as seen in Fig. 4, by simply placing a button, t, on its end, so that it can overlap the handle A or engage with a hook upon its end, such asf.

These instruments are not only useful as need1e-holders, but can be employed as forceps for different uses in surgery.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claiinl. A needle holder or forceps having its working-handle hinged or pivoted to its accompanying handle, and provided with a sliding wedge-bar, which is actuated by the opening and closing of the working-handle, and which bar operates to open and close the gripingjaws, substantially as described.

2. In a needlel1older,t1ie combination of an actuating-lever and shifting-wedge for closing and opening the jaws, substantially as shown and described.

3. A needle holder having an elongated handle, the front extremity of which serves as one of the jaws, the arm forming the other jaw being inclined and pivoted thereto, and operated by a shifting-rod beveled for the purpose, which in turn is thrown forward by the closing ot'one ofthe handles, substantially as described.

4. In a needleholder, the combination of the fixed handle, the movable working-handle, the sliding wedge-bar, the clamping-jaws, and the catch or lock for locking the parts when the working-handle is closed, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with a needlediolder, of the rings D D, or their equivalent, to allow actuating-rod B to pass freely back and forth,

at the saine time holding it securely in position, substantially' as described.

GEO. E. JONES.

Witnesses:

J ERE F. Twome, GUS. A. MEYERS. 

